The Quezon Huskers poured their reserve power in the second half to beat Binan Tatak Gel, 56-49, and retain the South Division crown in the 747.LIVE presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season at the overfilled Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Trailing for most of the first half, the Huskers seized control after three quarters and clustered nine points early in the fourth to take the best-of-five series, 3-2, and barge into the MPBL National Finals against the Abra Solid North Weavers, the North Division champions.
Ljay Gonzales, rested in the second quarter, took charge when it mattered, firing eight of his game-high 14 points in the last ten minutes, to go with 2 assists and 2 rebounds to clinch best player honors.
Vince Magbuhos provided support with 13 points and 9 rebounds, followed by Joshua Yerro with 8 points and Christian Pagaran with 7.
Their pooled effort compensated for the absence of top gunner Judel Fuentes, who injured his left ankle in Game Four.
Binan got 10 points from Pamboy Raymundo, 9 points from Carlo Lastimosa, and 7 each from Jaymar Gimpayan and Kenny Roger Rocacurva.
With Joseph Gabayni also snagging nine rebounds, the Huskers ruled the boards, 44-38, despite Rocacurva’s 10-rebounds.
Last year, the Huskers subdued the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters in the South Finals but got swept by the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the finals.
Binan silenced Quezon for six minutes and bunched 14 points, the first six by Lastimosa, to seize control at 16-9 in the first quarter.
Rocacurva and Yerro traded triples to close the half at 30-25, Binan ahead.
Quezon won Game One, 57-55, and Game Three, 66-56, while Binan took Game Two, 68-55, and Game Four, 57-53.
MPBL Chief Executive Officer Joe Ramos and Operations Head Emmer Oreta awarded the championship trophy to the Huskers, headed by coach Eric Gonzales and Quezon Gov. Helen Tan.
The MPBL National Finals start on December 10 at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
